The statement mentions that it was "not right" the 35-year-old "Suits" actress, who lives in Toronto, should be subjected to such treatment, and although the Prince rarely takes formal action over "fictional stories," in the past week "a line has [been] crossed."

Kensington Palace has issued a statement this morning about the harassment currently being experienced by Meghan Markle and her family. pic.twitter.com/EuFZ4fmUIj

"[Prince Harry's] girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment. Some of this has been very public — the smear on the front page of a national newspaper; the racial undertones of comment pieces; and the outright sexism and racism of social media trolls and web article comments. Some of it has been hidden from the public — the nightly legal battles to keep defamatory stories out of papers; her mother having to struggle past photographers in order to get to her front door; the attempts of reporters and photographers to gain illegal entry to her home and the calls to police that followed; the substantial bribes offered by papers to her ex-boyfriend; the bombardment of nearly every friend, co-worker, and loved one in her life."

"It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm," the statement continues. "He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she has to pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game’. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game — it is her life and his."

"He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done. He knows that it is unusual to issue a statement like this, but hopes that fair-minded people will understand why he has felt it necessary to speak publicly."

It is also thought that Prince Harry had been staying with the American lifestyle blogger when the news broke they were dating. Although initial reports say Harry had originally cancelled a flight to Toronto on Oct. 30, in fact, he was already at Markle's home, and stayed there for at least a few days.